April 1, 1999
"The Marines: We're Saving a Few Good Species."
--from a poster promoting the Marine's efforts
on behalf of the desert tortoise
(See "Not an April Fool's Joke" below.)
Contents:
TAKE ACTION #1: Thanks and Criticism on Budget Guidelines
TAKE ACTION #2: Support Land and Water Conservation Funding
NOT AN APRIL FOOL'S JOKE:
The Marines and the Tortoise
TAKE ACTION #1: Keep Up the Pressure on Budget Resolution Votes
Earlier this week, we've urged readers to write letters to the
editor either praising or reproaching your senators or
representative for their votes on the budget resolutions.
The House and Senate budget resolutions, which passed on March 25,
propose slashing environmental spending by 10 percent next year,
and by 28 percent in 2004.
While it sets nothing in stone, the budget resolution lay out broad
guidelines for the appropriations process later this year.
We want to keep up the pressure, keep those letters to the editor
pouring into newspaper offices.
The most effective way to get our message out is to write a quick
letter highlighting the potential impact of the cuts on our local
environment, and praising or criticizing your local elected
officials.
Any member of Congress who voted for the final House budget
resolution should hear from constituents that they are disappointed
in that vote.
Here is how to tell if your representative voted to slash
environmental funding by voting "yes" on the final budget
resolution:
(a) All but five Republicans voted yes.
Connie Morrella (Md.) and Jack Quinn (N.Y.) voted no. Please thank
them. Dan Burton (Ind.), Ron Paul (Texas) and Lamar Smith (Texas)
did not cast a vote.
(b) All but six Democrats voted no.
Those who voted yes were Gary Condit (Calif.), Robert Cramer
(Ala.), Virgil Goode (Va.) and Ralph Hall (Texas.)
Two Democrats -- Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Bart Stupak (Mich.) did
not vote.
The other critical vote on the budget was on a substitute budget
offered by Rep. John Spratt (D-S.C.) that would have restored
funding for environmental programs and fund the Lands Legacy and
Livable Communities initiatives. That measure failed.
Here is how to tell how your representative voted on the Spratt
Substitute: ("Yes" is the correct vote in this case.)
(a) No Republican voted yes on this substitute.
(b) Five Democrats missed the vote: James Barcia (Mich.), John
Dingell (Mich.), Bart Stupak (Mich.), George Brown (Calif.) and
Nancy Pelosi (Calif.)
(c) 33 Democrats voted no on this substitute.
Berry (Ark.)
Bishop (Ga.)
Boyd (Fla.)
Costello (Ill.)
DeFazio (Ore.)
Frank (Mass.)
Goode (Va.)
Holden (Pa.)
Kanjorski (Pa.)
Lee (Calif.)
Lipinski (Ill.)
Lucas (Ky.)
McCarthy (N.Y.)
McIntyre (N.C.)
Miller (Calif.)
Minge (Minn.)
Mollohan (W.V.)
Murtha (Pa.)
Owens (Va.)
Pastor (Az.)
Peterson (Minn.)
Phelps (Ill.)
Pickett (Va.)
Pomeroy (N.D.)
Rivers (Mich.)
Schakowsky (Ill.)
Stark (Calif.)
Stenholm (Texas)
Tanner (Tenn.)
Taylor (Miss.)
Tierney (Mass.)
Traficant (Ohio)
Visclosky (Ind.)
All other Democrats voted yes on the Spratt substitute.
The House's only Independent -- Bernie Sanders from Vermont --
voted no.
Members who voted YES on the Spratt substitute, and also NO on the
final budget resolution deserve SPECIAL THANKS.
Those who voted YES on the final budget resolution deserve to be
CRITICIZED for their vote.
TAKE ACTION #2: Support the Land and Water Conservation Fund
Write a letter to the editor urging support for "Resources 2000"
As you probably know, several bills have been introduced in
Congress this year to revitalize the Land and Water Conservation
Fund and provide funding for other public lands and wildlife
conservation programs.
The Sierra Club strongly supports "Resources 2000," H.R. 798,
offered by Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) in the House and Sen.
Barbara Boxer in the Senate (S. 446). Strong LWCF-related
legislation is an important goal of the Club's Wildlands Campaign
and we need your help to get your representatives signed on to this
landmark legislation.
Congress is in recess right now, which means members will be home
in their districts and reading their local papers. Now is the time
to get a letter to the editor urging them to co-sponsor these
bills.
Thanks for your help.
NOT AN APRIL FOOL'S JOKE:
"The Marines: We're Saving a Few Good Species."
There's this poster making the rounds in the San Francisco office.
In the center is a 15" x 15" photograph of the California Desert
with a long-necked desert tortoise in the foreground and a white
armored tank in the background.
The kicker on top: "Armored Threat and Threatened Armor."
The headline below the photo: "The Marines: We're Saving a Few Good
Species."
The text says:
"The desert is a harsh environment, testing warriors and their
armor, yet when the U.S. Marines fire and maneuver, they often find
an armored friend -- the threatened desert tortoise -- already
holding the high ground. The Marines, with the help of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service" are working to protect endangered
species while maintaining military preparedness. One result: at
Twentynine Palms, both armored threat and threatened armor are
ready for the future. That's what happens when some of your best
friends are Marines."
You can't make this stuff up.
March 31, 1999
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to
everything else in the Universe."
--John Muir
My First Summer in the Sierra
Contents:
TAKE ACTION #1:
TAKE ACTION #2:
Global Warming--Ozone Hole Connection??
TAKE ACTION
TAKE ACTION #1: Cheers and Boos on Environmental Spending Votes
On March, 25, the House and Senate passed budget resolutions that would
devastate the environment. The budgets would slash environmental spending
by 10% next year, and by 28% in 2004.
Unless they hear from us, the members of congress who voted for this budget
will make the cuts in the appropriations (spending) bill that would reduce
funds for clean air and water, enforcement, toxic waste clean up, parks,
and other environmental programs. The most effective way to get our message
out is to write a quick letter to the editor highlighting the potential
impact of the cuts on the local environment, and the vote that the local
congressman/woman cast in favor of these cuts.
Any member of Congress who voted for the final House Budget resolution
should hear from his/her constituents that they are disappointed in that
vote.
Here is how to determine if your member of Congress voted to slash
environmental funding by voting YES on the final Budget Resolution (H. Con.
Res. 68):
Two Republicans voted NO on the final budget resolution: Connie Morrella
(MD) and Quinn (NY)
Three Republicans did not vote on the final Budget Resolution: Burton IN,
Paul TX, Smith TX.
All other Republicans voted to slash environmental funding and voted YES on
the final Budget Resolution.
In addition, four Democrats voted YES on the final Budget Resolution:
Condit CA, Cramer AL, Goode VA, Hall TX
Two Democrats did not vote: Pelosi CA, Stupak MI
All other Democrats voted NO on the Final Budget Resolution
The other critical vote on the Budget was on a substitute budget offered by
Representative Spratt (D-SC) that would have restored funding for
environmental programs and fund the Lands Legacy and Livable Communities
initiatives. That measure failed. Members who voted YES the Spratt
substitute, and also voted NO the final Budget Resolution, particularly
deserve your thanks.
Here is how to determine how your Representative voted on the Spratt
Substitute (YES is the correct vote):
No Republican voted YES on this substitute.
Five Democrats missed the vote: Barcia (MI), Dingell (MI), Stupak (MI),
Brown (CA), Pelosi (CA
33 Democrats voted NO on this substitute: Berry AR, Bishop GA, Boyd FL,
Costello IL, DeFazio OR, Frank MA, Goode VA, Holden PA, Kanjorski PA, Lee
CA, Lipinski IL, Lucas KY McCarthy NY, McIntyre NC, Miller CA, Minge MN,
Mollohan WV, Murtha PA, Owens VA, Pastor AZ, Peterson MN, Phelps IL,
Pickett VA, Pomeroy ND, Rivers MI, Schakowsky IL, Stark CA, Stenholm TX,
Tanner TN, Taylor MS, Tierney MA, Traficant OH, Visclosky IN.
All other Democrats voted YES on the Spratt substitute
One independent vote no on this substitute: Sanders I-VT-AL
Remember -- the Representatives who deserve your applause are those who
voted YES on Spratt and NO on the final Budget Resolution and the
Representatives who deserve to be criticized are those who voted YES on the
final Budget Resolution.
TAKE ACTION
TAKE ACTION #2
Urge Your Representative to Protect and Restore Our National Forests
The US Forest Service commercial logging program continues to dig itself
into a deeper hole, creating more environmental damage and a bigger
restoration bill for the taxpayers each year. The commercial logging
program has created the legacy of a destructive network of clearcuts and
440,000 miles of logging roads, more than $2 billion lost by American
taxpayers in the last six years, and long-term damage to wildlife, fish
habitat and clean drinking water sources.
The Forest Service still finds that the incentives to sell trees and retain
the timber receipts outweigh and override its mission of "caring for the
land and serving people." The commercial timber program is clearly harming
the land and a real restoration program would better serve the people.
The National Forest Protection and Restoration Act will end commercial
logging on our National Forests and create a "Restoration Corps" to repair
the decades of damage done by the logging program. Congressional leaders
Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) and Rep. Jim Leach (R-IA) are now gathering
co-sponsors for the re-introduction of this visionary legislation - and
your representative has the opportunity to be a forest protection leader,
too.
You can help end the destructive commercial logging program and restore our
damaged National Forests. Call or write a letter to your representative at
202/225-3121 or "Your Rep.," U.S. House of Representatives, Washington,
D.C. 20515 and urge him/her to be an original cosponsor of the National
Forest Protection and Restoration Act and put an end to this wasteful and
destructive program.
March 30, 1999
"My view is that there is no reason why our trucks and gasoline can't be
cleaner. We owe it to our kids to make sure that dangerous smog seasons are a
phenomenon of the 20th century, not the 21st."
Sierra Club President Chuck McGrady writing in support of strong new auto
pollution and clean gasoline (Tier 2) standards. His letter was published in
the Asheville Citizen-Times (Asheville, NC). See story below.
Contents:
TAKE ACTION: Urge your Senators to sign the Feinstein/Bryan/Gorton letter
on SUVs!!!
GLOBAL WARMING: GAS GUZZLERS UNDER FIRE
ACCOMPLISMENTS: FOLLOW OUR LEADER: SIERRA CLUB PRESIDENT'S LETTER TO THE
EDITOR; NEW DELAWARE SIERRA CLUB GROUP HAS BIG VICTORY
TAKE ACTION
TAKE ACTION #1: Cheers and Boos on Environmental Spending Votes
On March, 25, the House and Senate passed budget resolutions that would
devastate the environment. The budgets would slash environmental spending by
10% next year, and by 28% in 2004.
Unless they hear from us, the members of congress who voted for this budget
will make the cuts in the appropriations (spending) bill that would reduce
funds for clean air and water, enforcement, toxic waste clean up, parks, and
other environmental programs. The most effective way to get our message out
is to write a quick letter to the editor highlighting the potential impact of
the cuts on the local environment, and the vote that the local
congressman/woman cast in favor of these cuts.
Also, write a letter thanking those members that voted against the budget
cuts.
For a complete list of how congress voted on these crucial budget issues,
also click on our web site at .
TAKE ACTION #2: URGE YOUR SENATORS TO SIGN ON TO THE FEINSTEIN/BRYAN/GORTON
LETTER ON SUVS!!!
Should sport utility vehicles and other light trucks be allowed to pollute
more than cars? The Sierra Club doesn't think so, and neither do US
Senator's Diane Feinstein, Richard Bryan, Slade Gorton.
These Senators have crafted a letter to President Clinton urging him to close
the loophole in federal miles per gallon standards that allows light trucks
to pollute more than cars. Raising miles per gallon standards for cars and
trucks is the biggest single step we can take to curb global warming. But
since 1995, friends of the auto and oil industries in Congress have attached
stealth "riders" to Department of Transportation's budget that have blocked
the Administration from improving the standards.
The Feinstein/Bryan/Gorton letter urges the President to work with concerned
Members of Congress to defeat the rider and close the loophole that allows
SUVs to pollute more than cars. This letter shows that Senators with a range
of political views all support the goals of curbing global warming and
protecting our environment (this is one of the few environmental issues on
which the Sierra Club and Sen. Gorton see eye to eye!)
ACT: CALL YOUR SENATORS! Phone your Senators TODAY and urge them to sign on
to the Feinstein/Bryan/Gorton letter on miles per gallon standards! If
they've signed on already, thank them (see "Gas Guzzlers Under Fire" for a
full list of signers). If they haven't, urge them to get on board!
Remind your Senators that raising miles per gallon standards is the biggest
single step we can take to curb global warming! Call the US Capitol
switchboard at (202) 224-3121, and urge your Senators to sign on today!
THANK YOUR
GLOBAL WARMING: GAS GUZZLERS UNDER FIRE
List of Senators Opposed To SUV Loophole Grows
Thanks to the hard work of environmental activists around the country, over a
dozen Senators have now signed on to the Feinstein/Bryan/Gorton "Close the
SUV pollution loophole" letter to President Clinton!
The letter calls on President Clinton to join with concerned Members of
Congress to close the loophole in federal miles per gallon standards that
allows light trucks to pollute more than cars. The letter's signers realize
that gas-guzzling SUVs, mini-vans, and pickups are worsening the threat of
global warming, strengthening our addiction to fossil fuels, and increasing
pressure to drill for oil in sensitive wilderness areas like the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge.
So far 18 Senators have signed on to the letter:
Sen. Diane Feinstein
Sen. Richard Bryan
Sen. Slade Gorton
Sen. Robert Toricelli
Sen. Paul Wellstone
Sen. Patrick Moynihan
Sen. Joeseph Lieberman
Sen. John Kerry
Sen. Barbara Boxer
Sen. Harry Reed
Sen. Fritz Hollings
Sen. Patty Murray
Sen. Frank Lautenberg
Sen. Ron Wyden
Sen. Christopher Dodd
Sen. Tom Harkin
Sen. Max Cleland
Sen. Chuck Schumer
Have your Senators signed on? If so, thank them! Send a letter, or give
them a phone call and show your appreciation!
If not --- why? Call them and urge them to sign on!
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
FOLLOW OUR LEADER: SIERRA CLUB PRESIDENT'S LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Chuck McGrady had a fantastic letter to the editor in support of strong new
auto pollution and clean gasoline standards published in the Asheville
Citizen-Times (Asheville, NC) on March 1st.
The White House Office of Management and Budget is now reviewing EPA's
proposed standards, called Tier 2. Letters published in your local paper are
a great way to educate your neighbors on a critical issue, such as Tier 2,
and they send a message to the White House that we are demanding clean air
for our kids.
Here is Chuck's letter:
"It's time to clear the air in America and Western North Carolina."
Dear Editor
It came as a big surprise to me to learn that in the summer of 1998, North
Carolina had the second most smog alert days in the United States - days when
smog pollution made our air unhealthy to breathe. Except for California, no
other state had more days when ozone standards were violated. In North
Carolina, there were 68 days in which the state was in violation of the ozone
standards.
Our children's health is at risk due to smog. Smog literally burns our lungs
and is dangerous to all of us, but particularly to our kids, who are more
likely to be exposed to dirty air as they run and play outdoors.
Relaxed pollution restrictions on sport utility vehicles (SUV's) and other
light trucks are a big part of the air pollution problem. Most people don't
realize that a loophole in the law allows light trucks to spew out three to
five times more pollution into our air than cars. While we pay a heavy price
with our health, the auto industry rakes in the profits, sometimes as much as
ten thousand dollars each, on these gas-guzzling polluters.
Another big part of the air pollution problem is our dirty gasoline. Sulfur
in our gasoline critically damages the pollution control systems in our cars,
lowering their effectiveness and causing them to spew out more pollution into
our air. California already took a stand on dirty gasoline, setting an
average sulfur standard of 30 parts per million (ppm). Everywhere else an
average is 330 parts per million. A nationwide clean gasoline standard would
help us, especially our kids, breathe cleaner air.
The good news is that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will soon
issue new auto pollution standards that could close the pollution loophole
for light trucks. Moreover, the EPA is also getting ready to issue new clean
gasoline standards that could make a lowsulfur national standard a reality.
My view is that there is no reason why our trucks and gasoline can't be
cleaner. We owe it to our kids to make sure that dangerous smog seasons are a
phenomenon of the 20th century, not the 21st.
McGrady is national president of the Sierra Club. He owns and operates
Falling Creek Camp in Henderson County.
Please let us know if your letter on auto pollution standards was published.
Send a note to Ann.Mesnkoff@sierraclub.org. We'd love to know.
NEW DELAWARE SIERRA CLUB GROUP HAS BIG VICTORY
Congratulations to the Southern Delaware Group, one of Sierra Club's newest
affiliations for a spectacluar marine/coastal, sprawl and conservation
victory. The group was instrumental in stopping a project to dredge a spur
channel off the main channel of Whites Creek located in the Indian River Bay,
Delaware. The group learned on Friday that the Delaware Department of
Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Soil and Water
Conservation had withdrawn its application to the Army Corps of Engineers for
a dredge permit.
The Southern Delaware Group and other groups and individuals used the public
comment process of the Clean Water Act to sucessfully argue that there was no
scientific or economic justification for this project, especially when
coupled with the potential for cumulative negative impacts on marine wildlife
and aquatic habitat from such action. Additionally, allowing the State to
dredge this spur channel would have set a precedent for developers to dredge
other spur channels, opening this shallow estaurine system to increased motor
boat traffic, as well as, further coastal sprawl development.
"In this instance, the Division made the right decision and is to be
applauded by the conservation community", said Cornelia Melvin, Chair of the
Southern Delaware Group.
Applaud now!
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